Cool MateObligation vs This is your responsibility
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Obligation
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
This is your responsibility
Top 2,000 (common)
| Obligation | This is your responsibility | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌɑːblɪˈɡeɪʃn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðɪs ɪz jɔːr rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti//🇺🇸 //ðɪs ɪz jʊr ˌrɪspɑnsəˈbɪləti// |
| Meaning | Something you must do; a duty or responsibility. | This is something you must take care of. |
| Example | She felt a strong obligation to help her friends in need. | In this team, this is your responsibility to ensure deadlines are met. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | contractual, legal, statutory, carry out, discharge, fulfil/fulfill, arise from something, under an obligation, without obligation, obligation of, contractual, legal, statutory, carry out, discharge, fulfil/fulfill, arise from something, under an obligation, without obligation, obligation of | take responsibility, share responsibility, personal responsibility, accept responsibility, delegate responsibility |
| Antonyms | freedom, option, choice | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'obligated' — remember 'obligation' is the noun., Using 'obligation' with incorrect prepositions — typically used with 'to' (e.g., obligation to pay)., Overusing in casual speech — more common in formal contexts. | Using 'responsibility' incorrectly as a verb instead of a noun., Saying 'Your responsibilities is' instead of 'Your responsibilities are'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'obligation' in both formal and informal contexts when discussing responsibilities or duties. It's appropriate in legal, academic, or personal situations but less common in casual conversations. | Use this phrase to emphasize someone's duty or obligation. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but can sound strong in casual conversation. |
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Frequently asked questions: Obligation vs This is your responsibility
What's the difference between Obligation and This is your responsibility?
Obligation: Something you must do; a duty or responsibility. This is your responsibility: This is something you must take care of.
Can you show an example of each?
Obligation: She felt a strong obligation to help her friends in need. This is your responsibility: In this team, this is your responsibility to ensure deadlines are met.
Can I use Obligation and This is your responsibility interchangeably?
Not always. Obligation and This is your responsibility are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.